Fairclough, Ellen, 1905-2004 : Ellen Louks Cook was born in Hamilton, Ontario on January 28, 1905, daughter of Norman Ellsworth Cook and Nellie Bell (Louks) Cook, who had migrated to Hamilton from Norfolk County the previous year. She was the third of five children, and was raised a Methodist.
Ellen Cook was educated at primary and secondary schools in Hamilton, Ontario. At age 13, she began working part-time, as a cash girl and sales clerk. In 1921, at age 16, she graduated from the Commercial course, entered the workforce full-time, and met her future husband David Henry Gordon Fairclough. From 1921 to 1928, she worked in a variety of jobs, as a stenographer, stenographer-typist, sales clerk, stenographer clerk, bookkeeper, and secretary to a bank manager. She also took an active part in church and community activities and, with the encouragement of Gordon Fairclough, joined the Conservative party. In 1928, Ellen Cook accepted a position in the office of a stockbroker, W.H. Magill, where she worked throughout the stock market crash in October 1929 until Magill's brokerage business collapsed, leaving her without a job. She married Gordon Fairclough, an Anglican, in January 1931, and was confirmed in the Anglican Church. They had one son, Howard.
After Howard was born, Ellen Fairclough returned to work part-time, and studied accounting by correspondence. In 1935, she earned her accounting accreditation and established her own accounting practice. She was elected to the executive of the Ontario Young Conservatives Association, and continued to be active in community activities.
Ellen Fairclough served in elected office continuously from 1946 until 1963, first at the municipal level in Hamilton and, later, as the Member of Parliament for Hamilton West. In 1946, Ellen Fairclough was elected to Hamilton City Council, where she served as alderman until 1949, when she was elected to the Board of Control. She served as Deputy Mayor from 1949 to 1950. In 1949, while she was an alderman, Ellen Fairclough ran as the Conservative candidate for Parliament in Hamilton West, but was defeated by Liberal Colin Gibson. The following year, while still serving on the Board of Control, she was elected to Parliament in a by-election. She served continuously as the Member of Parliament for Hamilton West from May 1950 until April 4, 1963, during which time she was re-elected 4 times, on August 10, 1953, June 10, 1957, March 31, 1958, and June 18, 1962. On April 4, 1963, she was defeated by Liberal Joseph Malcuso. From May 1950 until June 1957, she served as a member of the Opposition under Progressive Conservative leaders George Drew, W. Earl Rowe and John G. Diefenbaker. On June 10, 1957 Diefenbaker led the Progressive Conservative Party to victory in a general election. On June 21, 1957, Ellen Fairclough was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council. She was the first woman named to Cabinet in the Government of Canada. She served as Secretary of State of Canada from June 21, 1957 to May 11, 1958, as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration from May 12, 1958 to August 8, 1962, and as Postmaster General from August 9, 1962 until April 21, 1963.
Several months after her return to private life, in September 1963, Ellen Fairclough was appointed Corporate Secretary of the Hamilton Trust & Savings Corporation. In 1967, she became a Director of the Corporation, and later served as Secretary-Treasurer and as Vice-President. She remained with Corporation until 1977. In 1974, she was appointed by Ontario Hydro as a Commissioner of the Hamilton Hydro Electric System, where she served until 1986. For 8 years she was Chairman of the Commission.
Ellen Fairclough was also active in community life. She served as President of the Zonta Club of Hamilton, District Governor of Zonta International, Dominion Secretary of the United Empire Loyalists Association, officer of provincial and national chapters of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, Director on the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, and Governor of Junior Achievement of Hamilton.
Ellen Fairclough received many honours and awards. She was a Life Member of the General Accountants Association of Canada, and the Chartered Accountants of Ontario and, in 1965, was elected Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA). She was also an Honorary Life Member of Zonta International. From 1982 to 1986, she was Honorary Treasurer and Executive Director of the Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals Foundation. She received an honorary doctorate from McMaster University in 1975, and another from Brock University in 1996. She was a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. She received the Coronation Medal in 1953, the Centennial Medal in 1967, the Jubilee Medal in 1977, and the Commemorative Medal that marked 125th anniversary of Canadian Confederation in 1992. In 1975, she was among 25 women honoured for their outstanding contribution to Ontario. In 1977 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1982 an Ontario Government building was named after her. In 1989, she was a recipient of the Persons Award from Status of Women Canada. In 1995, she was elevated to Companion of the Order of Canada. In 1996 she was named to the Order of Ontario. In 1992, the Queen bestowed on her the title of Right Honourable.
In 1995, the University of Toronto Press published Ellen Fairclough's memoirs, under the title Saturday's Child: Memoirs of Canada's First Female Cabinet Minister. Ellen Louks (Cook) Fairclough died on November 13, 2004 in Hamilton. She was predeceased by her son (1986) and her husband.
